To Be or Not to Be

Abortions could be funded under the massive health care plan recently passed
by the U.S. Congress, the Congressional Research Service confirmed in a July
23 memorandum.

Abortion was a huge roadblock in the passage of the major health care “overhaul,”
as conservatives fought to ensure that tax dollars would not be used to fund
elective abortions. The bill gained enough votes in the divided House of Representatives
because of an amendment—which was approved by an overwhelming majority—that
banned funding of abortion.

That amendment was stripped from the final bill, however, and health care was
passed into law on President Obama’s promise to sign an executive order banning
abortion funding. That order apparently did not live up to the promise, however,
because loopholes would still allow abortions.

President Obama issued an executive order to ban federal funding of abortion
under the U.S.’s new universal health care law. But the ban included major loopholes. Now two congressmen have drafted a
new bill to close the loopholes permanently.

When the loopholes were brought to light, the White House announced temporary
regulations that would close them but emphasized that the ban “is not a precedent
for other programs or policies.” That approach leaves the future of restrictions
in serious doubt.

In response, pro-life congressmen are supporting a new bill that would make
this ban permanent. The bill would also set in stone numerous congressional
amendments that currently must be reauthorized every year, such as a ban on
U.S. funding of abortions in foreign lands.

Two Congressmen—Chris Smith, a Republican, and Dan Lipinski, a Democrat— drafted
this bill, called the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.

Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, observes that “the
Obama administration is trying to play both sides.” She is encouraged that this
new bill, if passed, “will uphold current laws, making permanent what has been
for too long temporary.”

Answers Magazine

October – December 2010

Human life is sacred, from conception until the day we die. This issue focuses on a creation-based understanding of the sanctity of life and mankind’s violation of the Creator’s clear directives. Feature articles explain when life truly begins, the shocking reality of human trafficking even in the West, and end-of-life decisions, such as living wills. Don’t miss this informative, edifying, and challenging issue!